Apparatus for automatically centering strip

ABSTRACT

A roll for automatically centering and aligning a strip or belt includes a resilient outer sleeve having a helical slot extending around the roll on each side of a circumferential central slot. One helical slot has a right-hand lay and the other a left-hand lay. Each slot is inclined radially toward the axis of the roll away from the circumferential slot.

Waited tates Patent Thornsbery Feb. 22, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATHCALLY CENTERENG S'IIRH I72] Inventor: George W. 'lhomsibery, Modesto, Calif.

I 73 Assignce: United States Steel Corporation [22] Filed: Oct. 14, 1969 211 Appl. N0.: 866,351

[52] US. Cl 1 ..198/184, 226/193 [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 15/32 [58] Field ofSearch ..198/184; 74/241; 29/121, 127;

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Griffith ..26/63 Lipsins ..29/127 Robertson "029/127 Morrow.... ..226/190 Morrow 226/193 Primary Examiner-Ricl1ard A. Schacher Attorney-Martin J. Carroll [5 7] ABSTRACT A roll for automatically centering and aligning a strip or belt includes a resilient outer sleeve having a helical slot extending around the roll on each side of a circumferential central slot. One helical slot has a right-hand lay and the other a left-hand lay. Each slot is inclined radially toward the axis of the roll away from the circumferential slot,

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENIEnrmz I912 3.643 v91 INVENTOR. GEORGE W. THOR/VSBERY Ar torney APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CENTERING STRIP This invention relates to apparatus for automatically centering and aligning moving objects, especially strip and striplike materials such as an endless belt. The apparatus is an improvement over that of Lorig U.S. Pat. No. 2,592,581 dated Apr. 15, 1952. The apparatus shown in the Lorig patent has been very successful in use but in some instances, especially when used for centering belts, l have found that the centering action is not as strong as desired for best results.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide apparatus for automatically centering a moving object having a more powerful centering action than previous rolls.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a schematic side view of an endless belt passing over rolls of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the roll of my invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the roll of FIG. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates an endless belt which passes around spacedapart rolls 4 and 6. At least one, and preferably both, of the rolls 4 and 6 is an automatic centering roll of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This roll includes a shaft 8 on which is mounted a resilient sleeve 10 made of rubber, neoprene, leather, fabric or the like. A circumferential slot 12 is provided in the sleeve 10 at the transverse central plane of the roll. Helical slots 14 and 16 are provided in the sleeve 10, one on each side of the central slot 12. It will be noted that one of the slots has a right-hand lay and the other a left-hand lay. The slots are inclined radially toward the axis of the roll away from the transverse center of the roll in the same manner as the slots in the Lorig patent. The slots start at the ends of the roll and terminate in the central slot 12. It is preferred that the slots terminate in the central slot 12. It is preferred that the slots terminate at different locations around the roll periphery as shown. in one particular roll I have found that a one-quarter inch wide helical slot extending inwardly at an angle of 30 and having a pitch of 1 inch per roll revolution is very satisfactory. If it is desired to use two slots on each side of the roll a 2- inch pitch has proved satisfactory.

The roll shaft 8 is supported by means of bearings 18 arranged in housing 20. The shaft of one of the rolls is provided with an extension 22 which is driven by means of a motor 24 either directly or through gearing. The direction of rotation of the rolls and belt is such that points on each helical slot 14 and 16 are moved toward the transverse central plane of the roll over the majority of the belt travel in contact with the centering roll.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically centering a moving belt comprising a first rotatable roll, said first roll including a resilient outer sleeve having a helical slot on each side of a transverse central plane extending around the periphery of the roll from the transverse central plane toward the roll ends, the sides of each slot being inclined radially inwardly from the outer surface of the roll toward the axis of the roll and away from the said transverse central plane, the helical slot on one side of said transverse central plane being of right-hand lay and the helical slot on the other side of said transverse central plane being of left-hand lay, the width of each slot being substantially less than the distance between adjacent slots; a second rotatable roll; an endless belt passing around said rolls; and means for rotating one of said rolls in a direction such that points on each helical slot will move toward the said trans verse central plane over the majority of the belt travel in contact with said first-named roll.

2. Apparatus for automatically centering a moving object according to claim 1 including a circumferential slot at said transverse central plane, said helical slots tenninating in said circumferential slot. 

1. Apparatus for automaTically centering a moving belt comprising a first rotatable roll, said first roll including a resilient outer sleeve having a helical slot on each side of a transverse central plane extending around the periphery of the roll from the transverse central plane toward the roll ends, the sides of each slot being inclined radially inwardly from the outer surface of the roll toward the axis of the roll and away from the said transverse central plane, the helical slot on one side of said transverse central plane being of right-hand lay and the helical slot on the other side of said transverse central plane being of left-hand lay, the width of each slot being substantially less than the distance between adjacent slots; a second rotatable roll; an endless belt passing around said rolls; and means for rotating one of said rolls in a direction such that points on each helical slot will move toward the said transverse central plane over the majority of the belt travel in contact with said first-named roll.
 2. Apparatus for automatically centering a moving object according to claim 1 including a circumferential slot at said transverse central plane, said helical slots terminating in said circumferential slot. 